Tour des Étangs, the roller coaster of Condé-sur-Risle

The Grand Huit goes around the ponds of Condé-sur-Risle and Appeville-Annebault. This route crosses the Risle on a bridge and offers a panoramic view and a discovery of the fauna and flora of the wetlands at the bottom of the valley. Three quarters of the route is located along the water's edge. Some poplar trees are remarkably tall.

Details

775254
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.95 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 0h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 9 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 9 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 32 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 22 m

Description of the walk

Follow the orange markings

(S/E) Depart from the church in Condé-sur-Risle.

With your back to the church, head down Rue du Village on the left. At the bottom, take the first left. In front of the beautiful gate, take the small path on the right and cross three footbridges to head towards the pond.

(1) At the edge of the pond, turn right and follow the path that runs alongside the small branch of the Risle river, which once fed a mill whose wheel can still be seen today. At the south-east corner of the pond, continue to the left to reach the north-east corner.

(2) When you reach the Risle, turn right into the footpath and then onto the bridge that crosses the Risle (superb view of the entire valley). Go around the second pond, either on the right or left. Cross the Risle again.

(2) Back at the first pond, turn right and continue along the pond to the north-west corner.

(3) When you reach the village hall, turn right, leave the pedestrian area and take the small access road. After the railway line, go up to the left to return to the church and village square (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 31 m - Church of Condé-sur-Risle
  2. 1 : km 0.32 - alt. 23 m - First pond
  3. 2 : km 0.99 - alt. 23 m - Risle (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 2.56 - alt. 23 m - Village hall
  5. S/E : km 2.94 - alt. 31 m - Church of Condé-sur-Risle

Notes

Car park near the church in Condé-sur-Risle.
On the other side of the valley, in the commune of Appeville-dit-Annebault, there is a small car park accessible from the RD 130 Pont-Audemer-Montfort road: 2nd possible starting point.

Hiking maps are available at the Val de Risle Tourist Office or on request: Val de Risle Tourist Office - 5 place des Annonciades - 27290 Montfort-sur-Risle - 02 32 56 35 76 - info@tourisme-val-de-risle.com -

This hike is also available in PDF format on our website.

Worth a visit

Things to see during this hike:

The Condé (first lake) and Appeville (second lake) ponds: former aggregate quarries, these two communal ponds were rehabilitated for walking after they ceased to be used for extraction. To cross the Risle, these two ponds are still connected by a bridge built by the quarry operator. Today, this walking area is strictly reserved for pedestrians. The Risle marks the boundary between the municipalities of Condé-sur-Risle and Appeville-dit-Annebault.

The Church of Saint Martin has an 11th-century Romanesque nave, a recessed 18th-century rectangular choir and a Renaissance porch built of alternating layers of stone and flint. The south exterior wall of the nave features an old pre-Romanesque door, now blocked up: the alternating brick and stone recalls the style of Roman buildings.

The charming village of Condé with its half-timbered houses, a beautiful property and the wheel of an old mill near the lake. Picnic tables are available on the large lawn in front of the church.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Glos27
Glos27

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short walk. An opportunity to explore the site.

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Carsatus
Carsatus

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

🥾🥾

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Natyva
Natyva

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Not many people on this route, but it was raining. I think it gets very busy in summer. Ideal route for young walkers. Be careful, however, of the three footbridges, which are made of wood and slippery when wet. One of these footbridges is in poor condition with loose boards. A pleasant walk, also ideal for runners.

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clicnet
clicnet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Pleasant hike without any difficulties.
Yellow markings, not orange.

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MARTIN Jean-Paul
MARTIN Jean-Paul

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As one of the leaders in an association, I combined a slightly longer hike by including almost the entire circular loop around the two Condé ponds on the Risle. By modifying my return route a little, I ended up with a distance of 12.5 km. I would have liked a little more.I'm going to see if I can do better with the Sarrasins route on the way back. The hike is very pleasant, alternating between water (ponds and the Risle), forests, gentle climbs and panoramic views of the valley with animals and beautiful Normandy scenery.

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noellechahi
noellechahi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Pleasant, easy hike, with a few areas saturated with water due to recent rainfall. Beautiful view of the Risle valley.

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seinclere
seinclere
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful walk around these two ponds, but a little disappointing for photographers, too crowded for my taste. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Other paths lead to four more ponds with a diverse range of local wildlife, including wild swans, egrets,herons. It's interesting; you just need to be curious, observant and discreet. A beautiful place in any case!!!

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b&p
b&p

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 24, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The start of the hike is difficult to find. Admittedly, the weather was bad, but we didn't find the hike particularly interesting. Never mind, the Christmas spirit was in full swing!

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